Aglaonema plant named ‘TWYAG0020’

ABSTRACT

A new  Aglaonema  plant particularly distinguished by having a very dense leafy, compact and upright branched growth habit, being small to intermediate in stature, leaves that are small and uniform, very vigorous, profuse suckering, producing many axillary branches and leaves and having a more rapid growth rate than typical commercial  Aglaonema  cultivars, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Aglaonema commutatum var. tricolor×A. rotundum hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘TWYAG0020’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema, botanically known as Aglaonema commutatum var. tricolor×A. rotundum hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘TWYAG0020’. The present variety originated from a hybridization made in June 2001 in Bogor, Indonesia in a cultivated field between the female parent, an un-named seedling of Aglaonema commutatum tricolor (unpatented) and the male parent, an un-named seedling of Aglaonema rotundum (unpatented). A single seedling was subsequently found in January 2003 among the progeny and chosen for further asexual propagation.

The new cultivar was created in Bogor, W. Java, Indonesia and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and sucker division in Apopka, Fla. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Apopka, Fla.

-   -   1. Small to intermediate in stature;     -   2. Leaves are small and uniform;     -   3. Very densely leafy, compact and upright branched growth         habit;     -   4. Profuse suckering and very vigorous;     -   5. Produces many axillary branches and leaves; and     -   6. Has a more rapid growth rate than typical commercial         Aglaonema cultivars.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Aglaonema plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show overall plant habit and leaves. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the new plant.

FIG. 2 shows the upper and lower surface of mature leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘TWYAG0020’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Apopka, Fla. The plant history was taken on 16-month-old plants started from a single 4-leaf rooted cutting, still in a vegetative state and grown in Apopka, Fla. Rooted cuttings were planted in 20-cm pots and grown in a greenhouse in May 2006. The average daily temperature was about 85° F. to 95° F. and the average nightly temperature was about 65° F. to 78° F. The light level was about 1500 to 3000 foot candles. The plants were pinched twice. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Araceae.         -   Botanical.—Aglaonema hybrid.         -   Common name.—Chinese Evergreen. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—An un-named seedling of Aglaonema commutatum             tricolor (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—An un-named seedling of Aglaonema rotundum             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Symmetrical, wider than tall; new leaves held upright,             mature leaves arch outward.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Very densely leafy, compact;             upright highly branched growth habit (basal branching);             small to intermediate in stature.         -   Height (from soil to top of leaf plane).—30 cm to 38 cm.         -   Diameter (area of spread, measured from leaf tip to leaf tip             across the canopy).—46 cm to 50 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished plant.—16 months starting from a             single 4-leaf rooted cutting and pinched twice.         -   Root description.—Abundant, fleshy white roots with finer             lateral branches.         -   Number of divisions or clumps per year.—About 8 to 10             four-leaf cuttings per year.         -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Leaves hold up well             against damage from shipping and handling; plant is durable,             excellent indoor keeping quality.         -   High temperature tolerance.—To about 104° F. for several             hours without damage.         -   Low temperature tolerance.—To about 55° F. for several hours             without damage. -   Stems:     -   -   Number of branches per plant.—33.         -   Length (from soil line to the junction of the newest two             leaves).—13 cm.         -   Diameter (measured from the midpoint).—0.8 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 1.4 cm.         -   Color.—Immature: RHS 145B to RHS 145C with areas of RHS             157D. Mature: RHS 161D. Oldest stems: RHS 194D with areas of             RHS 161C.         -   Appearance (shape).—Columnar, cylindrical, upright.         -   Aspect.—Vertical, upright.         -   Strength.—Sturdy, strong, somewhat flexible.         -   Axillary buds.—Shape: Elliptic, flat. Length: 0.4 cm. Width:             0.2 cm. Color: RHS 158D. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single, arranged in a spiral along             the stem.         -   Quantity of leaves per stem.—8.         -   Length.—11.5 cm to 14.4 cm.         -   Width.—Flattened: 6.8 cm to 7.5 cm. Not flattened: 4.5 cm to             5.6 cm; leaf blade folds upward along the midrib.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Smooth, entire, mostly flat with some broad             undulations.         -   Texture.—Smooth; new leaves shiny; mature leaves shiny to             glossy; the leaf blade is convex between the main veins and             somewhat puckered along the midrib giving the leaf a             textured appearance.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Young leaf (newly expanded leaf).—Color: Upper side: RHS             147A base color; RHS 147B to RHS 191A (dark silver-green)             areas which follow the primary veins; suffusion of RHS 146D             to RHS 150D (yellow-green) spots; areas adjacent to the             primary veins and midrib are RHS 150D to RHS 146D variably             tinged with RHS 54B. Under side: Base color lighter than,             but closest to RHS N186C with a cast of RHS 147A             (dark-green), suffused with spots of RHS 185C; areas             adjacent to the primary veins and midrib are RHS 185C.         -   Mature leaf.—Color: Upper side: Base color darker than but             closest to RHS 147A; RHS 189A (dark silver-green) areas             which follow the primary veins; suffusion of RHS 146D to RHS             150D (yellow-green) spots; areas adjacent to the primary             veins and midrib are RHS 150D to RHS 146D variably tinged             with RHS 53B to RHS 53C. Under side: Base color RHS N186C             with a cast of RHS 147A (dark-green), suffused with spots of             RHS 185C; areas adjacent to the primary veins and midrib are             RHS 185C.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, radiating outward from the midrib             in a herringbone arrangement.         -   Venation color (newly expanded leaf).—Upper side: Primary             veins: RHS 150D to RHS 146D flushed with RHS 53D. Midrib:             RHS 53D. Under side: Primary veins: RHS 53D to RHS 185C.             Midrib: RHS 54C.         -   Venation color (mature leaf).—Upper side: Primary veins: RHS             150D to RHS 146D flushed with RHS 53C to RHS 53D. Midrib:             RHS 53C to RHS 53D. Under side: Primary veins: RHS 53D.             Midrib: RHS 54C. -   Petioles:     -   -   Aspect.—Vertical upright when newly expanded, becoming             curved outward and about 45° with maturity.         -   Length.—8.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Distal: 0.3 cm. Proximal (petiole and petiole             sheath clasps the stem proximally). Flattened: 2.0 cm.             Natural diameter: 0.8 cm.         -   Color.—Distal: RHS 49A to RHS 50C (between the top of the             wing and the base of the leaf). Proximal: RHS 49B streaked             with RHS 49A. Area adjacent to stem: RHS 49D.         -   Wing length.—5.6 cm.         -   Wing diameter.—Mid-point: 0.5 cm. Base: 0.8 cm. Depth: 0.3             cm.         -   Wing color.—Inside: RHS 49D. Outside: RHS 49B streaked and             flushed with RHS 49A. Area adjacent to stem: RHS 49D. -   Inflorescence: None observed. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: Typical of Aglaonema; no particular     susceptibility or resistance to pests or diseases noted.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘TWYAG0020’ differs from the female parent, a typical Aglaonema commutatum var. tricolor by having dark-pink petioles, while the female parent has light-pink petioles. ‘TWYAG0020’ has leaves (upper surface) that are a combination of green, yellow and red colors, while the female parent has leaves (upper surface) that are plain green with silver stripes. In addition, ‘TYWAG0020’ has profuse suckering, while the female parent has moderate suckering.

‘TWYAG0020’ differs from the male parent, a typical A. rotundum by having leaves that are reddish in color on the lower surface and no red veins on the upper surface, while the male parent has leaves that are dark-purple or maroon in color on the lower surface and have red veins on the upper surface.

‘TWYAG0020’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Red Gold’ (unpatented) in that the leaves are a reddish color on the upper surface, while for ‘Red Gold’ the leaves are a pale yellowish-green color on the upper surface. In addition, ‘TWYAG0020’ has profuse suckering, while ‘Red Gold’ has moderate suckering.

‘TWYAG0020’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Key Largo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,550) in that ‘TWYAG0020’ has a shorter and narrower growth habit than ‘Key Largo’. In addition, ‘TWYAG0020’ has shorter, narrower leaves with more yellow color in them than ‘Key Largo’. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant as shown and described herein. 